Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting Project Management Software

Nowadays, most organizations use project management software to run their projects. Choosing the right tool will ensure that projects are run more efficiently, thus minimizing losses. However, going for an inappropriate solution could significantly lower your productivity or even result in project failure.

Here are some of the mistakes you need to avoid when choosing project management software for your organization or team:

1. Choosing the cheapest software

When buying project management software, you should opt for a solution which is within your budget. However, you should not make your decision based on price only. Cheaper software usually come with fewer features, and therefore could cause problems in the long run. This does not mean that you should buy the most expensive software available. Just ensure that whatever you choose has all the features you require for your projects.

2. Choosing a solution that lacks a mobile app

In this day and age, more and more people are working remotely. Good project management software should have a mobile app which allows remote workers to access information quickly. Such an app should be optimized for the whole work force and not just a single user. In addition, it should support file sharing, offer communication tools, offer task management, have search functionality and have the ability to integrate with other software.

3. Choosing software that lacks task statuses

Since most of your projects will involve several tasks at different stages, task management will be a very crucial element of your daily operations. At a glance, you should be able to see where each of your projects is in terms of completion. This will make it easier for you to create new milestones and delegate tasks more effectively. Therefore, selecting project software that doesn’t come with task statuses would be a big blunder.

4. Selecting software that is not secure

Besides functionality, security needs to be a major consideration before investing in project management software. Overlooking security issues could prove disastrous in the long term if your system is compromised. Therefore, before making a purchase, be sure to have your IT experts test the tool first. You should also read reviews from other users of the software. Is the vendor providing a cloud-based or self-hosted solution? If they are using a cloud-based solution, is the safety of your data guaranteed? What is the software’s uptime status? Addressing such security questions will help you make a more informed decision.

5. Selecting a solution that does not allow customization

Project management software that doesn’t come with customization options can be very frustrating. In the long run, it will limit your creativity, lower your productivity and increase your expenses. Therefore, be sure to find a solution that allows you to modify it according to your needs. A good example is Tradify which comes customized for electricians and other trades.

6. Selecting a solution with a complex interface

If your software has a complicated interface, your team members will waste a lot of time trying to figure out how it works. This could result in costly mistakes which will delay your project and increase your costs. Therefore, you need to go for a solution that has an intuitive design that can be learned quickly. This will leave your workers with plenty of time to focus on the project

About the author

Charles Mburugu is a HubSpot-certified content writer/marketer for B2B, B2C and SaaS companies. He has worked with brands such as GetResponse, Neil Patel, Shopify, 99 Designs, Oberlo, Salesforce and Condor. Check out his portfolio and connect on LinkedIn.